Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder

Hear Davie dive right in with no introduction needed as he talks about his growing up in Scotland and how he was a polished turd when it comes to skilled trade wood working and/or metal work! Experience with building a cassette tape rack and bottle opener key ring! A great story about his interview going into the trades and witnessing what others were doing at the same time! A humbling experience....

In this episode, we discover and celebrate who Buddy Brumley really is! Buddy is the ideal lean builder who has witnessed various ways of delivering work and has settled on a lean mindset and approach to the construction industry. Hear Buddy talk about the transition of the industry over the course of his career. As an employee for Skiles Group, Buddy is one of the Original Lean Builders and a tru...

**Disclaimer** The viewer of this podcast has promised to watch the Hoots on the Ground podcasts #8 and #12 on trust. Without having listened to those episodes, you will not be able to hold people accountability Hoots goes on a tangent on the word accountability. Tune in to discover how you can develop a deeper sense of accountability on your project sites. There are two ways to hold people accoun...

Henry is a Union sheet metal worker as of 34 years! He currently serves as Preconstruction Executive for Southland Industries, a nation leading HVAC Contractor. Henry has served the construction industry at every level from apprentice to executive and has recently released a book titled Seven Principles: Creating Your Success in the Construction Industry. In this podcast, Henry gives a tease on so...

Harry has a unique and diverse background that includes being in the military, both Air Force and the Navy. Also being exposed to the business side of healthcare, Harry has been able to utilize all this experience into better delivering construction projects! Harry explains some of the data on how The Last Planner System has helped O'Shea Builders increase their profits by 20%, finish projects 12%...

If you don't know Kabri Lehrman-Schmid, this is a must-watch episode! Even if you do know Kabri, you will learn and have a deepened respect for everything that she is doing to create safe learning environments on her project sites. The extracurricular activities that she gets into, will inspire you to take another look at what you're doing to create safe spaces! Now a lead superintendent amid a pr...

In this middle of the healing gardens at Prisma Memorial Hospital, Sean tells us about his career coming up as a member of the 10,000 hour millwork club! As one of the best millworker on the west side of the Mississippi – Hoots was able to introduce Sean to one of the best millworkers on the east side of the Mississippi, Mark Riddle! Maybe Mark would be willing to come on and represent his side of...

In this episode, Hoots opens up about his experience in the hospital over the last three weeks fighting kidney transplant rejection. You will learn way more about immunology and plasma apheresis than you ever wanted to. Also, have you ever wondered what a lean freak's hospital room looks like – tune in to the video version to find out more!! A touch of vulnerability in this episode as Hoots opens...

In this episode, Host Adam Hoots interviews Dan Reynolds, Executive Vice President with Gilbane Building Company. Dan shares a bit about growing up in the Midwest in Iowa. Although he's worked all over the world, the Midwest is still near and dear to him, and he brings those roots to his work daily. Dan starts the podcast by sharing a saying from his father about the value of "quiet competence." Y...

In this episode, Jordan Christensen tells us more about who he is and how he got to where he is now! Hold on as he discusses his amazing family life and how he found and developed his takt planning skills! Watch Jordan's face light up as he talks about Ryker, Camden and Brielle as he tells the story of 'growing up' with Takt planning. Jordan explains how his takt journey has gone from crawling to...

In this episode, Hoots is in restoration and recovery mode after an enormous week that took a lot of energy and effort out of him. Hoots talks about how important rest is to our soul and reads some feedback from a listener! Last week consisted of helping a mega project team pick up on the principles of takt planning and takt construction! The team came up with some really creative ways to implemen...

In this episode, Hoots reviews The Lean Builder Blog on Building Trust In the Workplace – 3 Dos and Don'ts. In addition, Hoots on the Ground gives additional ways on how to build, create, and maintain trust. This is the first step in curating a successful lean project. Hoots also reviews the first trust episode (S1E8) and elaborates on ways to make it happen. Here are some ways on how to build tru...

In this episode, Hoots interviews General Superintendent James Gable and Hunter Fuqua with Adolfson & Peterson. They tell their lean journey through each of their perspectives. This conversation covers everything from prefabrication to generational differences and covers what a millwright trade is and or has developed into. As Hunter and James interact, you get a tremendous feel for their connecti...

From the second the interview starts; you hear Gabe calling Hoots out for his handwriting ability. It's a constant battle between these two and it starts here…In this episode, Hoots on The Ground talks with Gabriel Lightner who has military, self-performed and large-scale general contracting experience. Gabe drops words of wisdom from all around! Including the first time Gabe caught Hoots in a foo...

In this episode, Hoots introduces the Lean Builder nation to Brian Melcher with Field Verified. Brian gives us his story on how he went from becoming an accountant to chasing water for a living. Brian tells his story on weighing whether College was the only option! He opens with his story on how he got Field Verified started and where they're headed. Tune in as he puts his perfect record fighting...

In this episode, Hoots on The Ground talks about trust and the book 5 Dysfunctions of a Team , where trust is the foundation of all things for a team. Once a solid basis of trust is established, then we can begin to have healthy conflict. With healthy conflict will come commitments that we will all be able to hold one another accountable for results! Patrick Lencioni also discusses the two types o...

In this episode, Shannon and Hoots discuss what it is like getting into a male populated industry to the point of Shannon even changing her name on her resume. Shannon dives into exactly what her purpose on earth is and helps drive an understanding of the term man in Construction. At the end of the day, we are all human. Hoots drops another Japanese word, Ikigai – Japanese concept that refers to g...

In this episode, Hoots reviews the blog done by Keyan Zandy about the Firefighter Arsonist. Why does our industry reward early morning, late nights, and weekends?! This stops today! We must no longer celebrate this bad behavior! In the blog, Keyan suggests the following items as a way to improve the construction industry: • Reward good planning!  • Stop celebrating long hours • Establish processes...

In this episode, Jesus (as his mom calls him!) Hernandez opens up and tells us all about who he is by shouting out so many others! Jesse informs The Lean Builder nation the ways he is changing the construction industry. Chuy tells us about how much he misses the jobsite razzing and joking. All you have to do is be smarter than the pipe! Jesus, Jesse, and Chuy discuss how HE is changing the image o...

In this episode, host Adam Hoots chats with Jason Schroeder , owner, trainer, author, and podcast host for Elevate Construction . They discuss Lean's value, vulnerability, productivity, mindset, and more. As Jason says: On we go…. Some quick show points: Watch Jason go #FULLGRANDMA mode on CPM Schedule! Hoots' wedding song is discussed randomly by Jason! Jason breaks down his definition of what Le...

In this episode, host Adam Hoots visits the jobsite with John Burleson , a superintendent with Robins and Morton in South Carolina. John has been in the construction business for 14 years. His Lean journey started about seven years ago with a failed experience as he didn't have the team involvement and support needed. After that first foray, every Lean journey since has met the goals. He shares th...

In this episode, host Adam Hoots takes listeners on a trail walk – yep, he's walking in the woods and chatting with you – as he shares the idea, approach, and goals for The Lean Builder's new podcast, "Hoots on the Ground." This podcast is all about respecting the workers, respecting the people, and keeping it real. We're here to learn and engage together. The focus is on delivering a practical me...

This week we debut The Lean Builder 's official podcast, "Hoots on the Ground," with our host Adam Hoots . In this episode, The Lean Builder creators Keyan Zandy & Joe Donarumo introduce the podcast series, goals, format, and host Adam Hoots. While there are several great podcasts in our industry out there already, Hoots on the Ground is unique as it's focused on the builders on the job site. It's...